GOP taps Rubio to counter Obama’s SOTU

Sen. Marco Rubio and the Gang of 8 unveil their framework for immigration reform today.

AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

Marco Rubio is the GOP’s antidote to President Obama.

The Florida Republican senator –and rising GOP star—will deliver the Republican response to the State of the Union on Tuesday.

The announcement will likely fuel more speculation that Rubio, who was elected in 2010, has his sights set on a presidential run in 2016.

House Speaker John Boehner, who announced Rubio would deliver the GOP address (in both English and Spanish), called Rubio one of “our party’s most dynamic and inspiring leaders” in a statement. He added that “his family’s story is a testament to the promise and greatness of America.”

Rubio, a Cuban-American lawmaker, is part of the bipartisan “gang of eight” working to reform the nation’s immigration policy. His upcoming speech comes as Republicans struggle to battle the image that they are anti-immigration. Latinos, of course, cast their ballots for Obama in 2012 by an overwhelming 71%.

The announcement that Rubio will deliver the address comes on the heels of the Sunshine State pol landing a cover on Time magazine for his influential role on immigration reform. The 41-year-old lawmaker stands front and center of the publication with the headline “The Republican Savior: How Marco Rubio became the new voice of the GOP.”

On Thursday, Rubio reacted to cover. He tweeted, “There is only one savior, and it is not me. #Jesus.”